Alcohol Poisoning vs. Intoxication: Key Symptoms and When to Get Emergency Help

While feeling drunk can be uncomfortable, alcohol poisoning is a serious medical crisis that demands immediate medical attention.

Alcohol poisoning, or acute alcohol overdose, happens when a person consumes a large amount of alcohol in a brief timeframe, posing life-threatening risks.

If untreated, alcohol poisoning can cause severe complications and even death.

How to Recognize the Difference

Distinguishing between intoxication and alcohol poisoning is vital for providing the right care.

Common signs of being drunk include:

• Unsteady walking
• Slurred speech
• Heightened emotions or euphoria
• Drowsiness
• Poor judgment and lowered inhibitions
• Nausea and vomiting

Learn more about the effects of intoxication.

Alcohol poisoning symptoms may overlap with intoxication but also include:

• Severe confusion
• Unconsciousness or inability to wake
• Irregular breathing with pauses over 10 seconds
• Very slow breathing, fewer than 8 breaths per minute
• Low body temperature
• Pale or bluish skin tone
• Seizures
• Excessive vomiting

Immediate medical help is crucial if alcohol poisoning is suspected, as it can be fatal without treatment.

Actions to Take and When to Call Emergency Services

If you believe someone has alcohol poisoning, you should:

• Seek emergency medical care immediately—call 911 or local emergency services instead of driving if you are intoxicated.
• Keep the person awake and responsive.
• If unconscious, place them on their side to prevent choking on vomit.
• Never leave them alone.
• Monitor breathing and be prepared to perform CPR if necessary.

In cases of suspected drink spiking, where substances are added without consent:

• Call emergency services or take the person to the nearest hospital.
• Stay with them continuously.
• Prevent further alcohol consumption.
• If possible, preserve the drink for testing.

For someone who is intoxicated but not showing poisoning signs, medical care may not be needed. However, severe drunkenness can still be hazardous.

Support tips for intoxication include:

• Stay close and don’t leave them unattended.
• Discourage risky behavior.
• Encourage hydration to help process alcohol.
• Keep them warm and comfortable.
• Allow rest.
• If vomiting, assist them to a safe place like a toilet or bucket.

Watch for worsening symptoms such as:

• Loss of consciousness
• Extreme confusion
• Hypothermia

These signs indicate the need for urgent medical intervention.

Resources and Support Options

Knowing how to tell intoxication apart from alcohol poisoning can save lives.

While intoxication symptoms are generally manageable, alcohol poisoning is a life-threatening emergency.

If you or someone you know struggles with alcohol, many resources offer support. You don’t have to meet criteria for alcohol use disorder to seek help.

Helpful resources include:

• Rethinking Drinking by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) provides valuable information and tools.
• Support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and SMART Recovery offer local meetings and resources.
• The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) helpline at 800-950-NAMI (6264) and text “NAMI” to 741741 for support.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and an online treatment locator.

Additional reading to support understanding and recovery:

• Recognizing Alcohol Use Disorder
• The Phases of Alcoholism
• Treatment Approaches for Alcohol Use Disorder
• How to Support Someone with Alcohol Addiction
• Top Apps for Alcohol Addiction Recovery

Consulting healthcare providers, mental health professionals, or rehab centers can also be beneficial.

Though alcohol misuse can be challenging, effective treatments exist to improve well-being and quality of life.

Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She is dedicated to empowering readers with science-based, compassionate health information.

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